MAINE, USA — The new school year is an exciting time for kids and teachers alike as it's the start of a new chapter. For many school administrators, it's also a new chapter plagued with reoccurring struggles.
Three superintendents in southern Maine said they still have vacancies for special education teachers and ed techs.
Windham Raymond School District is still in the process of hiring teachers, but Superintendent Chris Howell said he expects all classroom teaching positions to be full before the school year begins. The district is still short, though, about four special education teachers and six ed techs.
"The shortage in special education in Cumberland County and even within our district, I think everyone is feeling it," Howell said.
Westbrook's Superintendent Peter Lancia said the district has eight remaining positions vacant after having about 50 open at the end of last year. He said he's confident most positions will be filled before the year starts.
"I've never seen a time like this where we have a lack of people who want to go into the career," York Superintendent Tim Doak, who is in his 35th year in education, said.
Administrators in York were able to hire the district's just 12 or so open teacher positions well before the first day of school, according to Doak. However, York is still short about five ed techs.
This school year is Doak's first year on the job in York, but he spent years overseeing two districts in Aroostook County. He said he was pleasantly surprised with the number of candidates applying to his new district, which he said is not always the case for districts in rural parts of Maine.
"Both of [the two former districts] had math, science, and music openings for at least three years and no applicants," Doak said.
Educators blame a number of factors for the consistent staffing shortfalls, like not having enough young people choosing careers in education. Howell said when experienced teachers take new jobs in new districts, they leave vacant positions behind.
"We’re pulling from another district because we have a hole that’s open because someone pulled someone from our district to theirs," Howell said. "I wish we reach this point where we weren’t taking from one another, but we’re all looking to fill our classrooms."
The Maine Department of Education said emergency hiring rules are in effect, which means districts have more flexibility when hiring.
Districts can hire people without a teaching license if they have either a bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience, are enrolled in a teacher training program, or have certification as an education technician III, as long as they pass a background check.
"Ideally, all educators should be fully certified, but our state statutes and rules offer certain caveats that allow for flexibility," Maine DOE spokesperson Marcus Mrowka said, in part, in an email to NEWS CENTER Maine.